→ Inka Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu: 4-Day Adventure

The trek is not as popular as the overbooked Inca Trail but many find it just as beautiful. This trek (also sometimes called the Cachicata Trek), is ideal for travelers in search of alternatives taking you through rural communities in the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas.

The trail starts in Huarocondo 01 hours away from Cuzco, Crosses for Socma, Rayan and Cachicata "Sun Gate", descends into and cone and ends in Ollantaytambo access to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu.

Day 01: Cusco | Huarocondo – Socma – Rayan
Day 02: Rayan to Cachicata
Day 03: Cachicata to Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Day 04: Visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary and return to Cusco

Itinerary

Day 1 | Cachicata

Cusco | Huarocondo – Socma – Rayan

Early in the morning. We leave from Cusco early we drive to Huarocondo Andean village, where we going to visit a colonial church, immediately we ascend to the community of Socma. Just before we arrive to Socma we’ll have a stop to take photos of some stone-age petroglyphs.
Today’s trek takes us up the valley behind Socma as we make our way to a small Inca site and beautiful waterfall that lie at the top of the valley.

Walking past fields cultivated with potatoes, corn and quinua we will have the opportunity to see a variety of birds and native plants and to learn about the customs of the Andean people. Your guide will teach you a little Qhechua (the language of the Incas) so that you can communicate with the people you meet on the trek.

After a relaxing morning’s walk, we’ll finally arrive to our destination, the Inca site of Perolniyoc. After a guided tour of the site we’ll carry on a short distance to our campsite at Rayan (3650m / 11975 ft.) where we’ll stop for the day. In the afternoon we will visit one of the local families and you can practice the Qhechua you learnt in the morning (much to everyone’s amusement).

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Trekking Time: Approximately 8 hours (including picnic lunch in the route),
and 2 hours for the lunch time.
Distance: 14 km.
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2 | Cachicata

Rayan to Cachicata

Today is the longest day of the trek. Setting out from our campsite we’ll carry on up the valley making our way to the first pass on the trek. This area is still cultivated by the local people despite the high altitudes and we will see local people caring for their fields. One of the few plants that seem to thrive at this altitude is a type of mint, (muña) and the scent infuses the air throughout the morning.

In total it’s about 4 hours walking to the pass (4440m / 14567ft.) where we’ll stop to take in the panorama and catch our breath before carrying on for about another 20 minutes to stop for lunch. After lunch the walking gets easier; having reached the top of the mountain the terrain levels out and we walk across the high plateau through a strange landscape of what appear to be burial mounds but is actually glacial moraine (piles of rock deposited by glaciers during the Ice Age).

Our goal for today is the Inca quarry of Cachicata. Working our way down from the high plateau we’ll arrive to Cachicata (3820m / 12532ft.), by late afternoon, passing by an Inca ruin which people refer to as the Sun Gate along the way.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Trekking Time: Approximately 9 hours (including picnic lunch in the route)
and 2 hours for the lunch time.
Distance: 16 km.
Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3 | Cachicata

Cachicata to Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Today you will dedicate to exploring Cachicata. Hardly anyone actually comes up here. Cachicata is an extensive site, it was the quarry used by the Inca for the construction of Ollantaytambo and there are various points of interest including several large buildings, quarried stones left half-finished and abandoned throughout the site, chullpas (burial houses) and a cave with Inca mummies still in place.

After a guided tour of the site we’ll continue our way down the mountain following the original platform used for transporting the stones to Ollantaytambo and arrive to the town by early afternoon. From Ollantaytambo we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Trekking Time: Approximately 8 hours (including picnic lunch in the route),
and 1 hour for the lunch time.
Distance: 9 km

Day 4 | Cachicata

Visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary and return to Cusco

After a very early buffet breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary (30 min). Our trip leader will give an introductory 2 hours guided tour of the ruins, after that we have the option of climbing the steep staircase of Huayna Picchu, a steep and vertically quite challenging hike that takes about 2 hours which affords great views of Machu Picchu.

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)
Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there. Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum, or bathe in the hot springs.
Back to Cusco: You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included),later board the train to Ollantaytambo where you will meet our transportation and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
*** Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.

Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 4kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy

What's Included?

Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your Inka Quarry “Cachicata trek” guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at 6:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. In case you can’t come at this time “please let us know” to coordinate another time.
Touristic Transport: You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning and will travel by private transportation to Pachar Village the starting point of the Inka Quarry to Machupicchu.
Adventure Experienced Inka Quarry trek Tour Guide: English speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide with tourism certification. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route, including leading your group in ancient ceremonies! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time along the Inca path and will ensure you are safe and happy.
Tour Guide in Machupicchu Cultural Experienced: English speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide with tourism certification. For visit the sacred city of Machupicchu.
Private campsites: Each campsite is carefully choosed for have a very local experience.
- Night 1: Enjoy the 1st night in Socma campsite on the route Cachicata trek and sleep in our 4 season Pro Aconcagua Doite tents. All our tents are 4 man tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
- Night 2: Enjoy the 2nd night in Inti Punku on the route Cachicata trek and sleep in our 4 season Pro Aconcagua Doite tents. All our tents are 4 man tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
- Night 3: The 3rd night in hotel is not included, which is in the town of Aguas Calientes; prices of hotels will vary according to your expectations and budget. However, we can offer you the option of joining us at our local accommodation Hotel Encanto Machupicchu "at no extra cost". www.hotel-encanto.com Our hostel in Aguas Calientes have double or triple rooms, private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, breakfast, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
- Note: It is not usual that the campsites, lodges or hotels change after the confirmation, however it can vary per government regulations and authorization, also for bad weather conditions and maybe because physical condition of our visitors: any changes in this matter ITEP travel will be informing you previously and as soon as possible
Entry ticket to Cachicata trail
Camping equipment: Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking equipment (all carried by our porters and horses).
Entry ticket to Machu Picchu Inka Site
Professional Trekking Chef: A professional chef specialized in cooking on the trail, with an assistant, will prepare all of your delicious meals along our journey on the Trail to replenish your energy every day. You will never go hungry!
Meals: 3Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners (Vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost) Please be in mind (1st breakfast and last lunch is not included”
Boiled Water: Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, Inka Trail Expeditions will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, filtered and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3L worth. We will refill our waters at each meal.
Wake up tea: Every morning at the campsite, you will wake up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.
Tea time daily during the Trek: Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide our tea time with popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
Products for hygiene: You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to clean your hands and every morning will be also a bucket with warm water for washes your personal hygiene.
Medical kit and Oxygen bottle: Our crew will bring a first-aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle.
Train tickets: From Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes “Machupicchu village” and return to Ollantaytambo train station (departure time is confirmed the day of briefing and it´s subject to availability)
Transfer back to Cusco: Private touristic transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco (Day 4)
24-hour guest service: We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.

What's not Included?

Sleeping Bags: You can rent one from our company if you do not have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use.
Bus Concetur to Machupicchu inca City: Most of the times the wait to board the bus to Machupicchu is from 1 hour to 1:30 min, So we prefer that you decide a day before your visit to the Inca city of Machupicchu. If you wish to take the bus considering the waiting time. Or if you prefer to do the last stretch of ascent walking up 45 to 1 hour "everything will depend on your physical state, after the trekking done".
Walking Sticks: You can rent a set from our company if you would like.
Day 1: Breakfast: Approx. Usd5 to usd 10.00, Price can vary according your selection.
Last Day: Lunch and Dinner in Aguas Calientes. Approx. Usd 20 to 25.00, Price can vary according your selection.
Personal clothing and gear
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish “Recommendation usd 6 to usd 8 per day per traveler for all the trek staff”- Once again it is optional and can vary according your satisfaction.
Additional costs or delays out of control of the management (landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.)